Dual camera module, optical device, camera module, and method for operating camera module

Abstract

The present embodiment relates to a dual camera module comprising: a first camera module including a first liquid lens and capturing a first image; and a second camera module including a second liquid lens and capturing a second image, wherein a viewing angle of the first camera module is smaller than a viewing angle of the second camera module, at least a part of the viewing angle of the first camera module is included in the viewing angle of the second camera module such that there is an overlapping area between the first image and the second image so as to enable a composite image formed by combining the first image and the second image to be generated, and when the first camera module is focused, a focal length of the first liquid lens is varied according to the distance between the first liquid lens and a subject, and when the second camera module is focused, a focal length of the second liquid lens is varied according to the distance between the second liquid lens and the subject.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A dual camera module comprising:
 a first camera module comprising a first liquid lens and capturing a first image; and 
 a second camera module comprising a second liquid lens and capturing a second image, 
 wherein a viewing angle of the first camera module is smaller than a viewing angle of the second camera module, the viewing angle of the second camera module comprises at least a part of the viewing angle of the first camera module such that there is an overlapping area between the first image and the second image so as to enable a composite image formed by combining the first image and the second image, 
 wherein the first liquid lens comprises a first liquid, a second liquid different from the first liquid, and a first interface formed between the first liquid and the second liquid, the second liquid lens comprises a third liquid, a fourth liquid different from the third liquid, and a second interface formed between the third liquid and the fourth liquid; 
 wherein the first camera module is focused by varying the first interface of the first liquid lens, and the second camera module is focused by varying the second interface of the second liquid lens; 
 wherein the first interface of the first liquid lens is formed with a first curvature when a subject is disposed at a position spaced apart from the first camera module by a first distance, and the second interface of the second liquid lens is formed with a second curvature when the subject is disposed at a position spaced apart from the second camera module by the first distance; and 
 wherein the first curvature of the first interface is different from the second curvature of the second interface. 
 
     
     
       2. The dual camera module of  claim 1 , wherein a focal length of the first liquid lens is varied according to a distance between the first liquid lens and the subject, when the first camera module is focused,
 wherein the focal length of the first liquid lens is shortened when the subject approaches the first liquid lens, 
 wherein a focal length of the second liquid lens is varied according to a distance between the second liquid lens and the subject, when the second camera module is focused, and 
 wherein the focal length of the second liquid lens is shortened as the subject approaches the second liquid lens. 
 
     
     
       3. The dual camera module of  claim 1 , wherein the first camera module comprises a first electrode disposed in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the first camera module and a second electrode comprising a portion in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the first camera module and another portion inclined with respect to the optical axis of the first camera module,
 wherein the first liquid lens comprises a first cavity disposed with the first and second liquids, one of the first and second liquids being electrically connected with the first electrode and the other of the first and second liquids being electrically insulated from any electrode, 
 wherein an upper diameter of the first cavity is greater than a lower diameter of the first cavity, 
 wherein a diameter of the first cavity is gradually reduced from an upper part to a lower part, 
 wherein the second liquid lens comprises a second cavity disposed with two mutually different liquids, 
 wherein an upper diameter of the second cavity is greater than a lower diameter of the second cavity, and 
 wherein a diameter of the second cavity is gradually reduced from an upper part to a lower part. 
 
     
     
       4. The dual camera module of  claim 1 , wherein the first camera module comprises a first electrode disposed in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the first camera module and a second electrode comprising a portion in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the first camera module and another portion inclined with respect to the optical axis of the first camera module,
 wherein the first liquid lens comprises a first cavity disposed with the first and second liquids, one of the first and second liquids being electrically connected with the first electrode and the other of the first and second liquids being electrically insulated from any electrode, 
 wherein a lower diameter of the first cavity is greater than an upper diameter of the first cavity, 
 wherein a diameter of the first cavity is gradually reduced from a lower part to an upper part, 
 wherein the second liquid lens comprises a second cavity disposed with two mutually different liquids, 
 wherein a lower diameter of the second cavity is greater than an upper diameter of the second cavity, and 
 wherein a diameter of second cavity is gradually reduced from a lower part to an upper part. 
 
     
     
       5. The dual camera module of  claim 3 , wherein, when the subject is focused at a position distanced by 10 cm from a first camera module, a shape of the first interface of the first liquid lens is convex to an upper direction of the first cavity, and
 wherein, when the subject is focused at a position distanced by 10 cm from a second camera module, a shape of the second interface of the second liquid lens is convex to an upper direction of the second cavity. 
 
     
     
       6. The dual camera module of  claim 4 , wherein, when the subject is focused at a position distanced by 10 cm from a first camera module, a shape of the first interface of the first liquid lens is convex to a lower direction of the first cavity, and
 wherein, when the subject is focused at a position distanced by 10 cm from a second camera module, a shape of the second interface of the second liquid lens is convex to a lower direction of the second cavity. 
 
     
     
       7. The dual camera module of  claim 1 , wherein the first curvature of the first interface is greater than the second curvature of the second interface. 
     
     
       8. The dual camera module of  claim 1 , wherein the first camera module comprises a first lens holder, and the first lens holder comprises a first lens disposed on an uppermost area inside the first lens holder,
 wherein the second camera module comprises a second lens holder, and the second lens holder comprises a second lens disposed on an uppermost area inside the second lens holder, and 
 wherein a diameter of the first lens is smaller than a diameter of the second lens. 
 
     
     
       9. The dual camera module of  claim 1 , wherein the first camera module comprises a first cover member accommodating the first liquid lens, and the second camera module comprises a second cover member accommodating the second liquid lens, and
 wherein the first cover member comprises a first upper plate forming an upper portion of the first cover member and a first lateral plate forming a lateral surface, and the second cover member comprises a second upper plate forming an upper portion of the second cover member and a second lateral plate forming a lateral surface. 
 
     
     
       10. An optical device comprising:
 a first camera module comprising a first liquid lens that captures a first image; 
 a second camera module comprising a second liquid lens that captures a second image; and 
 a controller generating a composite image by combining the first image and the second image; 
 wherein a viewing angle of the first camera module is smaller than a viewing angle of the second camera module, the viewing angle of the second camera module comprises at least a part of the viewing angle of the first camera module such that there is an overlapping area between the first image and the second image so as to enable a composite image formed by combining the first image and the second image, 
 wherein the first camera module is focused by varying a first interface of the first liquid lens, and the second camera module is focused by varying a second interface of the second liquid lens; 
 wherein the first interface of the first liquid lens comprises a first curvature when the subject is disposed at a position spaced apart from the first camera module by a first distance, and the second interface of the second liquid lens comprises a second curvature when the subject is disposed at a position spaced apart from the second camera module by the first distance; 
 wherein the first curvature of the first interface of the first liquid lens is different from the second curvature of the second interface of the second liquid lens, and 
 wherein the controller is configured such that resolution of the composite image is increased by combining the first image and the second image based on the overlapping area. 
 
     
     
       11. The dual camera module of  claim 9 , wherein an area of the first upper plate and an area of the second upper plate are mutually same. 
     
     
       12. The dual camera module of  claim 9 , wherein an area of the first upper plate is narrower than an area of the second upper plate. 
     
     
       13. The dual camera module of  claim 1 , wherein a maximum diameter of a cavity formed on the first liquid lens is smaller than a maximum diameter of a cavity formed on the second liquid lens. 
     
     
       14. The dual camera module of  claim 1 , wherein a minimum diameter of a cavity formed on the first liquid lens is smaller than a minimum diameter of a cavity formed on the second liquid lens. 
     
     
       15. The dual camera module of  claim 2 , wherein the focal length of the second camera module is smaller than the focal length of the first camera module. 
     
     
       16. The dual camera module of  claim 1 , wherein the first interface is changed to adjust a modulation transfer function (MTF) value of the first image. 
     
     
       17. The dual camera module of  claim 16 , wherein the second interface is changed to adjust a modulation transfer function (MTF) value of second image. 
     
     
       18. The dual camera module of  claim 1 , wherein the first camera module and the second camera module simultaneously perform an auto focus (AF) function. 
     
     
       19. The dual camera module of  claim 1 , wherein an optical image stabilization (OIS) function is performed by varying of the first interface of first liquid lens. 
     
     
       20. The dual camera module of  claim 1 , wherein an optical image stabilization (OIS) function is performed by varying of the second interface of the second liquid lens.